Oh yeah it's time for the big dance everyone. I'm hyped with the Fighting Illini's overall #1 seed in the tournament. While it won't be a cakewalk, the Chicago regional isn't as difficult as the other regionals and the Illini should definitely be in the final 4. They had a a below average performance in the Big 10 tourney, at least offensively, but if they can get their guards up to the speed they had during the regular season, no one can stop them!

They have me a bit worried. They have not shot the ball well the past 4 ballgames. At least the other teams shot bad in the Big Ten Tourney as well. Maybe it's just the United Center's rims?

Really I think it depends on how well or off Dee Brown is. It seems like if he is on fire the rest of the team just feeds off of him. If not they kind of struggle.

I'm a bit worried too, they didn't have a strong Big Ten tourney and didn't seem to be the dominating force they should have been versus Fairleigh Dickinson. They best not take Nevada lightly, or there will be hell to pay. But I think if they play strong as they did at the end of the regular season, minus the trip to Ohio State, they can still go all the way.

I had Wake Forest going to the final four. I am now officially screwed since the leaders of one of the pools I am in actually picked Wake Forest & Syracuse to lose. The only consolation is my son is no longer sitting with his perfect score but he looks in good shape to win the 10 person family pool...damn kid.

Now I need my two Big 10 teams to help me out today and the way State played Friday night, I might be screwed in the office pool as well. I'm comforable with Duke and NC and the Badgers should be able to hold of Bucknell (whereever the hell they are from) so the damage won't be too bad if that's true but State...damn...they got to start playing the ball they are capable of.

In fact, after going 24-8 in the first two days, I was royally screwed yesterday - I only picked 4 winners (Illinois, Arizona, Washington, Kentucky) and ended up with 6 losers (BC, Gonzaga, Wake, OK and Kansas & Syra who didn't even win the first round).

Oh yah!! The wolfpack helped me out with that win!! I have NC State vs. NC and every guy in the nieghborhood pool picked U-Conn to go to the final four. Nice...this could work out well if the Big 10 comes through. It's only a free steak dinner for the winner but bragging rights in the sub division is priceless .

Yeah, I'll join the club of people whose brackets are sufficiently screwed up at this point. I had Wake Forest and Syracuse in the Final Four, and Kansas in the Elite Eight. I know they say that someone picks all these games right every year, but I really find that hard to believe. Anyone who had the Bucknell - Kansas upset picked was just out of pure luck, and then on top of that to have Syracuse and Wake losing early as well. They must be genius. At this point, I'm just hoping that the Heels can keep on winning (maybe this is finally the year again), and otherwise, the more upsets the better. I always enjoy rooting for the underdog...as long as it isn't vs. UNC.

Well hey look at this way. In the town of Normal, Il (right next to where I live) the leaders right now are a 4 year old and a lady who knows nothing about basketball. Just kind of picked the teams at random.